EP3321194B1 - Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets partiels - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets partiels Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3321194B1
EP3321194B1 EP16197948.9A EP16197948A EP3321194B1 EP 3321194 B1 EP3321194 B1 EP 3321194B1 EP 16197948 A EP16197948 A EP 16197948A EP 3321194 B1 EP3321194 B1 EP 3321194B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
compartment
unit
packet
portion packet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP16197948.9A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3321194A1 (fr
Inventor
Daniel HAFSTAD
Patrik SÖDERSTRÖM
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Swedish Match North Europe AB
Original Assignee
Swedish Match North Europe AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to HUE16197948A priority Critical patent/HUE047409T2/hu
Application filed by Swedish Match North Europe AB filed Critical Swedish Match North Europe AB
Priority to LT16197948T priority patent/LT3321194T/lt
Priority to PT161979489T priority patent/PT3321194T/pt
Priority to ES16197948T priority patent/ES2753589T3/es
Priority to PL16197948T priority patent/PL3321194T3/pl
Priority to DK16197948T priority patent/DK3321194T3/da
Priority to RSP20191375 priority patent/RS59450B1/sr
Priority to EP16197948.9A priority patent/EP3321194B1/fr
Priority to SI201630497T priority patent/SI3321194T1/sl
Priority to EP17787210.8A priority patent/EP3541706A1/fr
Priority to JP2019545843A priority patent/JP7170648B2/ja
Priority to US16/344,168 priority patent/US11046464B2/en
Priority to RU2019117602A priority patent/RU2751245C2/ru
Priority to KR1020197014273A priority patent/KR102419440B1/ko
Priority to CA3042765A priority patent/CA3042765A1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2017/077467 priority patent/WO2018086902A1/fr
Publication of EP3321194A1 publication Critical patent/EP3321194A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3321194B1 publication Critical patent/EP3321194B1/fr
Priority to HRP20191890TT priority patent/HRP20191890T8/hr
Priority to CY20191101128T priority patent/CY1122284T1/el
Priority to US17/330,459 priority patent/US11884433B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B29/00—Packaging of materials presenting special problems
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/08—Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
    • B65B39/007—Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
    • B65B39/12—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers movable towards or away from container or wrapper during filling or depositing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
    • B65B5/061—Filled bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
    • B65B5/101—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles by gravity
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F23/00—Cases for tobacco, snuff, or chewing tobacco
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2220/00—Specific aspects of the packaging operation
    • B65B2220/16—Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging
    • B65B2220/18—Packaging contents into primary and secondary packaging the primary packaging being bags the subsequent secondary packaging being rigid containers, e.g. cardboard box
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B2230/00—Aspects of the final package

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a method for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container.
  • the disclosure further relates to an arrangement for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container.
  • the disclosure also relates to a container comprising a plurality of portion packets of a product for oral use.
  • a portion packet of a product for oral use comprises a filling material enclosed by a packaging material.
  • An example of such a portion packet is a portion-packed pouched oral smokeless tobacco product.
  • Pouched smokeless tobacco products may be produced by measuring portions of the smokeless tobacco composition and inserting the portions into a nonwoven tube.
  • Patent document US 4,703,765 discloses a device for packaging precise amounts of finely divided tobacco products, such as snuff tobacco or the like, in a tubular packaging material into which snuff portions are injected via a fill tube. Downstream from the tube, welding means are positioned for transverse sealing of the packaging material and also cutting means for severing the packaging material in the area of the transverse seal to thus form discrete or individual portion packets.
  • finely divided tobacco products such as snuff tobacco or the like, may be placed on a planar web of packaging material as a portion before the planar web is formed to a tubular-shape, e.g. according to a technique called "NYPS" described in US 6,135,120 .
  • NYPS a technique called "NYPS" described in US 6,135,120 .
  • the packaging material is wrapped around the already placed snuff portion to form the tubular-shaped packaging material, thereby enclosing the snuff portion.
  • the arranged packaging material is then sealed by a longitudinal seal.
  • a subsequent unit forms individual portion packets from the discharged portions and the packaging material.
  • portion packets In order to store and transport the portion packets, it is desirable to place them in a container. Traditionally, a preselected number of portion packets have simply been allowed to tumble down into the container. The portion packets then end up in an arbitrary three-dimensional arrangement, which will differ from one container to the next. There is then a possibility that a portion packet may assume such a disadvantageous position that it risks being squeezed between the container and a lid, which is applied to the container. In that case, it may be difficult to open the lid and the squeezed portion packet may break.
  • portion packets positioned in a predefined pattern in the container provide a more attractive appearance to the user. Further, the portion packets may be packed into the container quicker and/or more geometrically efficient, i.e. space-saving. However, the portion packets may be relatively difficult to handle at high speed in automated processes, since they may be soft and somewhat sticky. The production rate in portion packing processes is very high, typically several hundreds of portion packets per minute.
  • Patent document EP 2457834 A1 discloses a device for placing portion packets of a product for oral use in a container.
  • the device comprises a portion packet positioning unit configured to position the portion packets in relation to each other in the container, wherein the positioning unit includes a set of portion packet receiving compartments arranged in a certain pattern, each of the compartments having an entrance end allowing a portion packet to enter the compartment and, at an opposite side of the compartment, a retaining end preventing a portion packet from exiting the compartment in that direction.
  • the positioning unit further comprises a discharging member configured to discharge portion packets from the compartments to the container.
  • the disclosure of EP 2457834 A1 also relates to a method for placing portion packets of a product for oral use into a container using such a device. According to EP 2457834 A1 , the three-dimensional pattern in which the portion packets are positioned in the compartments is substantially retained in the container.
  • Patent document DE 19 32 852 A1 discloses a device for placing bags, e.g. filled by a liquid, in compartments of a container, e.g. a cardboard box.
  • the device comprises a plurality of canals located beside and/or behind each other, which are closable at their lower ends by means of a flap and below which a lifting device for the containers is located.
  • Patent document DE 10 2015 105295 A1 discloses a machine and a method for mechanically inserting at least one product or a portion composed of several products into an open-top tray.
  • the at least one product is transported in direction of travel, i.e. in the longitudinal direction, on a product conveyor and is dropped from the product conveyor into a tray arranged below the discharge point, which tray is positionable in the transverse direction, by a discharge edge movable over the longitudinal direction, a so-called jump edge. Since usually the transverse position of the product on product conveyor is determined before the discharge and of course its longitudinal position on the product conveyor is known, can in this way different storage formations in the trays be achieved when laying down individual products. Nevertheless, a mask protecting the edge of the tray from contamination can be used.
  • the object of the present disclosure is to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
  • a method for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container by means of a compartment unit comprises a bottom wall and a side wall together defining a storage volume.
  • the container has a height direction.
  • the compartment unit comprises a plurality of compartments, each with a respective discharge opening.
  • the method comprises method steps according to claim 1.
  • a portion packet of a product for oral use comprises a filling material enclosed by a packaging material.
  • the packaging material may be made of a nonwoven material, e.g. comprising viscose, optionally including an acrylic polymer that acts as binder in the nonwoven material and provides for thermo-welding of pouches during manufacturing thereof.
  • Nonwovens are fabrics that are neither woven nor knitted. Methods for the manufacturing of nonwoven, as well as suitable polymer materials for the nonwoven, are commonly known in the art.
  • the filling material may comprise a pulverulent material, such as a smokeless tobacco or tobacco-free material, which may be nicotine-containing or nicotine free, which may also be referred to as filling composition or snuff composition.
  • a pulverulent material such as a smokeless tobacco or tobacco-free material, which may be nicotine-containing or nicotine free, which may also be referred to as filling composition or snuff composition.
  • the filling material may be tea or another food product.
  • pulverulent material as used herein is meant any material in the form of particles, granules, grinds, plant fragments, short fibres, flakes etc.
  • the portion packet is commonly provided with a transverse seal at either end, such that the sealed product has a pillow-like shape, e.g. having a general rectangular shape when seen from above. Square is herein seen as a special case of rectangular.
  • the portion packet then has a length I and a width w.
  • the transverse seal is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the tubular-shaped packaging material.
  • the pouched product may further, as an option, be provided with a longitudinal seal, which is substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the tubular-shaped packaging material.
  • the tubular-shaped packaging material is first longitudinally sealed to form a circumferentially closed tubular shape and then transversely sealed.
  • the pillow-like shape comprises two parallel short edges and two parallel long edges, which are perpendicular to the short edges.
  • a respective transverse seam may be arranged at the short edges.
  • the longitudinal seam is typically not located at the long edges. Instead it may, for example, be located substantially halfway between the long edges.
  • tobacco any part, e.g., leaves, stems, and stalks, of any member of the genus Nicotiana.
  • the tobacco may be whole, shredded, threshed, cut, ground, cured, aged, fermented, or treated otherwise, e.g., granulated or encapsulated.
  • tobacco material is used herein for tobacco leaves or parts of leaves, such as lamina and stem.
  • the leaves and parts of leaves may be finely divided or disintegrated, such as ground, cut, shredded or threshed, and the parts of leaves may be blended in defined proportions in the tobacco material.
  • Oral and oral use is in all contexts used herein as a description for use in the oral cavity of a human, such as buccal placement.
  • Portion packets of pouched oral smokeless tobacco products are normally sized and configured to fit comfortably and discreetly in a user's mouth between the upper or lower gum and the lip.
  • the portion packets have a generally rectangular shape.
  • Some typical shapes, length x width, of commercially available pouched oral smokeless tobacco products are, for instance, 35 mm x 20 mm, 34/35 mm x 14 mm, 33/34 mm x 18 mm, and 27/28 mm x 14 mm.
  • Each pouched oral snuff product may have a maximum length within the range of from 25 mm to 35 mm along the longitudinal direction of the product and a maximum width within the range of from 12 mm to 20 mm along the transverse direction of the product.
  • the thickness i.e.
  • portion packet height of the portion packet is normally within the range of from 2 mm to 8 mm.
  • the total weight of commercially available portion packets of oral smokeless tobacco products are typically within the range from about 0.3 g to about 3.5 g, such as from about 0.5 g to 1.7 g per portion packet.
  • the first distance d 1 is preferably less than an extension of the portion packets in the height direction of the container. Assuming the portion packets have a pillow-like shape, the portion packets may abut on one of their short edges on the bottom wall of the container. In that case, the extension of the portion packet equals the length I of the portion packet and it is preferred that 0 ⁇ d 1 ⁇ I. If instead abutting on a long edge, the extension equals the width w of the portion packet and it would be preferred that 0 ⁇ d 1 ⁇ w. Thereby, the portion packets will at least partly be retained in the compartments. Preferably, the first distance d 1 is very small, i.e. close to zero, but yet large enough to allow the compartment unit to rotate in relation to the container, which may be used for sequentially introducing the portion packets in the compartments.
  • step b i is an integer going from 1 to n, i.e. step b is repeated n times, n ⁇ 2.
  • the number n is the number of compartments to be loaded, i.e. filled by at least one portion packet, and is typically in the range from 5 to 30, preferably from 10 to 25. If there is to be a single portion packet in each compartment, the number n of portion packets intended to be positioned in the container will also equal n. However, the number of portion packets in the container may also be higher than n, if placing more than a single portion packet in the same compartment, as is further explained below.
  • the step of introducing a portion packet is normally repeated for each compartment of the compartment unit.
  • the compartment unit has a cross-section being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle, it is suitable to rotate the compartment unit into a suitable position for introducing a portion packet into the next compartment.
  • the compartment unit has a rectangular cross-section, it is suitable to linearly translate the compartment unit into a suitable position for introducing a portion packet into the next compartment.
  • Square is herein seen as a special case of rectangular. If rectangular, the portion packets may be arranged in one, two, three or more parallel lines.
  • Each compartment may be adapted to receive a single portion packet. It would also be feasible to have two, three or more portion packets in the same compartment. In that case, one portion packets may be located inside the other in the same compartment, such that the edge of one portion packet faces the edge of the other. Alternatively the portion packets may be located next to each other with their largest sides facing each other. As yet an alternative, one portion packets may be located on top of the other in the same compartment. These variants may also be combined.
  • a compartment unit may comprise compartments of different types, e.g. a mixture of compartments intended for a single portion packet and compartments intended for two portion packets.
  • Step c comprises a controlled reconfiguration of the portion packets.
  • one of the compartment unit and the container may be moved and the other may be held still.
  • the compartment unit is displaced and the container is held still. It is also possible that both the compartment unit and the container are moved.
  • Step c may be performed by:
  • This three-dimensional pattern may be referred to as a packaging pattern or a display pattern, as it is the pattern, which is presented to a user when opening the container.
  • This pattern provides an attractive and highly functional display of the packaged portion packets.
  • the obtained packaging pattern can remain stable, even if the container, being closed by a corresponding lid, is carried around in a pocket of the user and/or if the container is shaken.
  • the pattern configuration provides a user with an easy way to estimate the number of portion packets in the container.
  • the exposed free edges of the portion packets may be immediately identified and easily grasped when the user wants to take a portion packet from the container. Additionally, this pattern configuration may help to obtain a regular distribution of the filling material within the portion packet.
  • the portion packets tend to be somewhat inclined in first three-dimensional orientation.
  • the first three-dimensional orientation may also be influenced by the compartment unit being moved during introduction of the portion packets.
  • the compartment unit may for example be stepwise moved during the introduction, e.g. stepwise rotated or stepwise linearly translated.
  • the portion packet has a preferred falling direction and will tilt about the portion being in contact with the bottom wall of the container, typically being an edge. Thereby, the portion packets will be brought to the second three-dimensional orientation by a controlled reconfiguration. If the compartments are regularly arranged, which is preferred, the portion packets will fall down in a staggered, domino-like pattern.
  • Step c is performed by:
  • step c1' the compartment unit is positioned at the second distance d 2 from the bottom wall of the container. If the portion packets abut on one of their short edges on the bottom wall of the container, comparison is made to the length I of the portion packet, such that d 2 ⁇ I.
  • d 2 ⁇ I 0.25 I ⁇ d 2 ⁇ 0.99 I, or preferably 0.4 I ⁇ d 2 ⁇ 0.95 I, or more preferably 0.6 I ⁇ d 2 ⁇ 0.95 I.
  • the width w of the portion packets d 2 ⁇ w may be larger than or equal to the first distance.
  • the second distance should be large enough to obtain the desired controlled reconfiguration of the portion packets to the second three-dimensional orientation, in which the portion packets are partly overlapping, and yet small enough so that a portion of each portion packet is still retained in the compartment, such that this portion packet may be moved by the compartment unit, e.g. by a wall member of the compartment. If the compartment unit is arranged vertically above the container, this portion will be the upper portion.
  • a portion of each portion packet will be moved by the compartment unit, while the other portion of the portion packet remains abutting the bottom wall of the container. Thereby the portion packets will be brought to the second three-dimensional orientation. If the portion packet abuts on one of its edges before the displacement, i.e. in the first three-dimensional orientation, the portion packet will tilt in the manner of dominos, such that the portion packet partly overlaps with an adjacent portion packet, i.e. the portion packet partly lies on top of the adjacent portion packet in the second three-dimensional orientation in a staggered, domino-like pattern.
  • the portion packets may assume a pre-definable three-dimensional pattern of portion packets in the container, which may be regular, i.e. the portion packets partly overlap with each other in a similar way.
  • the length of the relative movement in step c2' is preferably selected to be large enough to cause the desired tilting of the portion packets.
  • the relative movement in step c2' is performed by a rotational movement in the reconfiguration plane of the compartment unit in relation to the container.
  • the rotational movement may be particularly suitable if the compartment unit has a cross-section being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle.
  • the linear translational movement may be particularly suitable if the compartment unit has a rectangular cross-section.
  • the compartment unit is moved and the container is held still. However, it is also possible that the container is moved and the container unit is held still, or that both of them are moved.
  • the compartment unit may be raised after the relative movement performed in step c2', such that the portion packets are allowed to fall down on each other from their tilted position resulting from the relative movement of step c2' to the second three-dimensional orientation.
  • Steps c1' and c2' may be performed simultaneously, or at least partly simultaneously, such that the compartment unit is positioned in relation to the container to second distance from the bottom wall at the same time as the compartment unit is moved in the reconfiguration plane.
  • the compartment unit may be moved upwards while being rotated.
  • the compartment unit may first be moved straight upwards then be moved upwards while being rotated.
  • steps c1 and c2 may be combined with steps c1' and c2'.
  • the method may further comprise a step of d) displacing the compartment unit in relation to the container in the height direction of the container, such that the compartment unit applies pressure to the portion packets when assuming the second three-dimensional orientation.
  • Step d is carried out after step c.
  • the portion packets may be locally compressed by means of the compartment unit. This will help to form a neat pattern of portion packets and to retain a stable configuration of the portion packets in the container.
  • the pressure may be applied with the compartment unit being at a third distance from the bottom wall of the container, which third distance is less than the second distance.
  • the portion packet may be introduced into the compartment, such that one of its edges faces the bottom wall of the container, preferably one of its short edges.
  • the distance from one portion packet to the adjacent portion packet when located in the compartment unit is preferably less than an extension of the portion packets in the height direction of the container, being the length I or the width w, when the portion packets assume the first three-dimensional orientation. Thereby, the desired configuration of the portion packets in the container, such that the portion packets partly overlap each other, is easily obtained.
  • the distance from one portion packet to the adjacent portion packet is determined as the smallest distance from a geometrical centre of one portion packet to the geometrical centre of the adjacent portion packet.
  • This disclosure further relates to an arrangement for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container according to claim 6.
  • the arrangement comprises a compartment unit, comprising a plurality of compartments for receiving at least one portion packet, and a positioning unit, having an axial direction.
  • the positioning unit is adapted to displace the compartment unit in a first displacement motion in the axial direction of the positioning unit.
  • the first displacement motion is used to adjust the interspace between the compartment unit and the container, cf. steps a, c1' and the optional step d of the method described above.
  • the axial direction is parallel to the height direction of the container.
  • the compartment unit forms a rigid structure, which is adapted to hold the portion packets in the first predefined three-dimensional pattern given by the compartment pattern, which pattern however is changed in step c to the second selectable three-dimensional pattern, which is the pattern of the portion packets in the container, which may also be referred to as the packaging pattern or the display pattern, as it is the pattern, which is presented to a user when opening the container.
  • the compartments are preferably arranged side-by-side, such that a single wall member forms a dividing wall between two adjacent compartments.
  • the positioning unit is also adapted to displace the compartment unit in a second displacement motion in the reconfiguration plane being perpendicular to the axial direction.
  • the second displacement motion is used for the displacement movement in step c2'.
  • the second displacement motion may be used during introduction of the portion packets into the compartments, see step b.
  • the compartments are arranged in a compartment pattern forming a first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle.
  • the compartments may then be wedge-shaped, wherein the wider end of the wedge shape forms an entrance end of the compartment.
  • the compartments may be arranged in a compartment pattern forming the above first sequence and in a second sequence, being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle, the second sequence preferably being concentric with the first sequence. Further the second sequence preferably has the same general shape as the first sequence, e.g. both being full circles.
  • the number of compartments in the second sequence is normally less than in the first sequence, e.g. a half, a third or a fourth.
  • the number of compartments in the first sequence may be a multiple of the number of compartments in the second sequence.
  • the arrangement may comprise a centre column located at a centre of the compartment unit, the centre column being displaceable in relation to the compartments in the axial direction, which is parallel to the height direction of the container.
  • the centre column may e.g. be spring-biased, such that the centre column protrudes from the compartments when the compartment unit is positioned spaced from the bottom wall of the container.
  • the centre column may help to keep the portion packets in place during the first displacement motion and/or the second displacement motion and to achieve a controlled reconfiguration of the portion packets.
  • the centre column prevents the portion packets from sliding into the centre of the container.
  • the centre column may have a diameter in the range of from 0% to 80%, preferably in the range of from 20% to 60%, more preferably in the range of from 30% to 50% of the diameter of the compartment unit.
  • An optional indentation at the end of the centre column may be adapted to fit on a corresponding protuberance of the bottom wall of the container.
  • the compartments may be configured such that each of the compartments has an entrance end, at which a portion packet may be introduced into the compartment in an entrance direction, a retaining end opposite the entrance end, the retaining end preventing the portion packet from further movement when being introduced, and a discharge opening facing in a direction being perpendicular to a straight line drawn between the entrance end and the retaining end.
  • the discharge opening is thereby adapted to face the container.
  • the arrangement may further comprise a transport unit configured to transport individual portion packets to the compartment unit, wherein the transport unit comprises a product channel arranged for transportation of individual portion packets.
  • the portion packets may be transported by means gravity and/or pressurized gas.
  • the product channel forms an angle ⁇ to a horizontal plane. If using gravity only, the angle ⁇ may be in the range from 30° to 90°, preferably from 40° to 80°, more preferably from 50° to 70°. If using pressurized gas, any angle would work since the portion packet will be moved by the pressurized gas. If using pressurized gas, the product channel may be configured like the product channel described in EP 2457834 A1 .
  • the product channel is configured to introduce each individual portion packet into the compartment with a predefined three-dimensional orientation in relation to the compartment, more preferably such that an edge of each portion packet faces a bottom wall of the container, most preferably one of the short edges of the portion packet.
  • a transport unit can also be used to introduce portion packets into other types of arrangement for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container than the arrangement disclosed herein, e.g. into the arrangement described in EP 2457834 A1 .
  • the arrangement may further comprise a packaging unit configured to wrap the packaging material around the filling material, wherein the packaging unit is arranged upstream of the transport unit, such that portion packets fed to the transport unit comprise portions of filling material wrapped in the packaging material. Examples of such packaging units are given in the above-mentioned patent documents US 6,135,120 and US 4,703,765 .
  • the disclosure further relates to a container, which is not in the scope of the invention, comprising a plurality of portion packets of a product for oral use.
  • the container comprises a bottom wall and a side wall together defining a storage volume, in which the portion packets are contained.
  • the container has a height direction.
  • the portion packets have a pillow-like shape, the shape comprising two parallel short edges and two parallel long edges, which are perpendicular to the short edges.
  • the portion packets are arranged such that one portion packet partly overlaps with an adjacent portion packet, wherein the portion packets are arranged such that one of the short edges of each portion packet abuts the bottom wall of the container.
  • This disclosure further relates to a container, which is not in the scope of the invention, comprising a plurality of portion packets of a product for oral use.
  • the portion packets are arranged such that one portion packet partly overlaps with an adjacent portion packet, wherein the portion packets are arranged in a first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle and in a second sequence, being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle, preferably being concentric with the first sequence.
  • the display pattern may form a polygon or a part of a polygon, wherein the number of sides in the polygon equals the number of portion packets.
  • This disclosure further relates to a container, which is not in the scope of the invention, comprising a plurality of portion packets of a product for oral use, the portion packet having a minimal extension s.
  • the portion packets are arranged in a first sequence being a full circle, a semi-circle or any other part of a circle.
  • a centre space located at a centre of the circle is free from portion packets.
  • the centre space has a diameter d s , wherein d s ⁇ s, and yet d s ⁇ d c - 2s, wherein d c is a diameter of the container.
  • the size and the location of the centre space may correspond to that of the centre column in the compartment unit.
  • the centre space may be used to dispose of used portion packets, e.g. in a disposal container located in the free centre space.
  • the portion packet has a pillow-like shape as mentioned above, typically substantially rectangular, the minimal extension would be the width of the portion packet.
  • the containers described herein comprising a plurality of portion packets are suitably closed by a corresponding lid, which will help the packaging pattern of the portion packets to remain stable, even if the container is carried around in a pocket of the user and/or if the container is shaken.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of an arrangement 1 for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container 3.
  • the arrangement comprises a compartment unit 5 and a positioning unit 7.
  • the compartment unit 5 forms a rigid structure, which comprises a plurality of compartments 9a, 9b, 9c, ...for receiving at least one portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, ....
  • the positioning unit 7, whereof only a portion is shown in Figure 1 is adapted to position the compartment unit 5 in relation to the container 3.
  • the compartment unit 5 of Figure 1 is shown in a cross-sectional view in Figure 3a .
  • the container 3 has a height direction H.
  • the container 3 comprises a bottom wall 13, extending perpendicularly to the height direction H and a side wall 15 extending in the height direction H.
  • the bottom wall 13 and the side wall 15 define a storage volume 17.
  • the container 3 has a circular cross-section but other shapes of the cross-section are feasible, e.g. a semi-circle or another or part of a circle. It would also be feasible to have a substantially rectangular container or any other suitable container shape. In an embodiment which is not in the scope of the invention, if rectangular, the portion packets may be arranged in one, two, three or more parallel lines. Square is herein seen as a special case of rectangular.
  • the container 3 may be made of plastics, metal and/or cardboard.
  • Each compartment 9a, 9b, 9c, ... is adapted to receive at least one portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, Across per compartment.
  • each compartment 9a, 9b, 9c, ... is adapted to receive a single portion packet, but it would also be feasible that a single compartment 9a comprises two, three or more portion packets, e.g. as illustrated in Figure 6a .
  • Each compartment 9a, 9b, 9c, ... has an entrance end 19, at which a portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, .... may be introduced into the compartment 9a, 9b, 9c, a retaining end 20 opposite the entrance end 19 and a discharge opening 21 adapted to face the container 3.
  • the retaining end 20 prevents the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, .... from further movement when being introduced.
  • the discharge opening 21 faces in a direction being perpendicular to a straight line drawn between the entrance end 19 and the retaining end 20, i.e. the discharge opening 21 is directed towards the container 3.
  • the compartment unit 5 has a circular cross-section with wedge-shaped compartments 9a, 9b, 9c, ..., which are arranged side-by-side, such that a single wall member 24 forms a dividing wall between two adjacent compartments.
  • the dividing wall members 24 are equidistantly spaced. However, it is to be understood that non-equidistant dividing wall members may alternatively be used.
  • the positioning unit 7 is adapted to displace the compartment unit 5 in a first displacement motion in the axial direction A, which is parallel to the height direction H of the container 3.
  • the positioning unit 7 may also, as an option, be adapted to displace the compartment unit 5 in a second displacement motion in a reconfiguration plane being perpendicular to the axial direction A and thus also perpendicular to the height direction H of the container 3.
  • the second displacement motion is a rotation around the axial direction A. If the container 3 has a cross-section forming a circle, as illustrated, a semi-circle or another part of a circle, the axial direction A preferably goes through the centre of the circle, as illustrated.
  • the second displacement motion may instead be a linear translational movement in the reconfiguration plane.
  • combinations of linear translational movement and rotations in the reconfiguration plane are possible.
  • the arrangement 1 may comprise a centre column 22 located at a centre of the compartment unit 5.
  • the centre column 22 is displaceable in relation to the compartments 9a, 9b, 9c, ... in the axial direction A.
  • the centre column 22 may e.g. be spring-biased, such that the centre column 22 protrudes from the compartments 9a, 9b, 9c, when the compartment unit 5 is positioned spaced from the bottom wall 13 of the container 3, as is illustrated in Figure 1 .
  • the centre column 22 may be used to help to keep the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... in place during the first displacement motion and/or the optional second displacement motion, as is further explained below in conjunction with Figure 5 .
  • FIG 2 illustrates one of the portion packets.
  • the portion packet 11a has a pillow-like shape, which typically is substantially rectangular, when seen from its largest side, as is illustrated in Figure 2 .
  • the portion packet 11a has a length I and a width w.
  • the shape comprises two parallel short edges 23a, 23b and two parallel long edges 25a, 25b, which are perpendicular to the short edges 23a, 23b.
  • a respective transverse seam 27a, 27b is arranged at each of the short edges 23a, 23b.
  • a longitudinal seam 29 extends between the short edges 23a, 23b, such that the longitudinal seam 29 is parallel to the long edges 25a, 25b.
  • the longitudinal seam 29 is typically not located at the long edges 25a, 25b. Instead it may for example be located substantially halfway between the long edges 25a, 25b, as is illustrated in Figure 2 .
  • Figures 3a , 6a and 7a illustrate different embodiments of compartment units 5, 5', 5"
  • Figures 3b , 6b and 7b illustrate the corresponding pattern of portion packets, which is obtained after the portion packets have been discharged into the container 3, 3".
  • each portion packet assumes a second three-dimensional orientation, which is different from the first three-dimensional orientation.
  • one portion packet partly overlaps with an adjacent portion packet, i.e. it lies partly on top of it.
  • Figure 3a is a cross-section of the compartment unit 5 of Figure 1 .
  • the compartments 9a, 9b, 9c, ... are arranged in a first sequence forming a full circle.
  • the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... are arranged in a corresponding circular pattern, see Figure 3b , wherein the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... form a polygon.
  • the number of sides of the polygon equals the number of portion packets.
  • a centre space 31 located at a centre of the circle is free from portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, whereas
  • the centre space 31 has a diameter d s , wherein d s ⁇ s, and yet d s ⁇ d c - 2s, wherein s is a minimal extension of the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, i.e. the width w of the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c illustrated in Figure 2 .
  • the size and the location of the centre space 31 correspond to that of the centre column 22 in the compartment unit 5.
  • the centre space 31 may be used to dispose of used portion packets, e.g. in a disposal container, which may be located in the free centre space 31, however not illustrated.
  • the distance f from one portion packet 11a to the adjacent portion packet 11b when located in the compartment unit 5, see Figure 3a is less than the extension of the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, ....in the height direction H of the container 3, here being the length I.
  • the distance f from one portion packet 11a to the adjacent portion packet 11b is determined as the smallest distance from a geometrical centre of one portion packet to the geometrical centre of the adjacent portion packet.
  • Figure 4 illustrates steps of a method for positioning portion packets of a product for oral use into a container by means of a compartment unit. Below, the method is described when using the compartment unit 5 of Figure 1 .
  • Figures 5a-e illustrate cross-sections of the container 3 and the compartment unit 5 of Figure 1 during different steps of the method.
  • the method comprises:
  • i is an integer going from 1 to n, n being the number of compartments 9a, 9b, 9c, ... to be loaded, n ⁇ 2. If there is to be a single portion packet in each compartment, the number of portion packets intended to be positioned in the container 3 will also equal n. However, the number of portion packets in the container may also be higher than n, if placing more than a single portion packet in the compartment, as is further explained below.
  • step b The step of introducing a portion packet, i.e. step b, is repeated for each compartment to be loaded.
  • the compartment unit 5 has a circular cross-section, as is illustrated in Figure 1 and 3a , it is suitable to rotate the compartment unit by 360°/n between each introduction of a portion packet.
  • the compartment unit 5" has a rectangular cross-section, it is suitable to linearly translate the compartment unit by the length of compartment unit divided by n between each introduction of a portion packet, cf. Figure 7a .
  • the first distance d 1 is preferably less than an extension of the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... in the height direction H of the container.
  • the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... stand on one of their short edges 23a on the bottom wall 13 of the container, hence the extension equals the length I of the portion packet and it is preferred that 0 ⁇ d 1 ⁇ I. If instead standing on a long edge 25a, 25b, the extension equals the width w of the portion packet it would be preferred that 0 ⁇ d 1 ⁇ w.
  • d 1 is very small, i.e. close to zero, as in Figure 5b , but yet large enough to allow the compartment unit 5 to rotate in relation to the container 3, which will facilitate sequentially introducing the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... in the compartments 9a, 9b, 9c;
  • the method further comprises: c) moving the compartment unit 5, 5', 5" in relation to the container 3, 3" thereby causing reconfiguration of each portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, ... to a second three-dimensional orientation being different from the first three-dimensional orientation.
  • Step c may be performed by:
  • the first three-dimensional orientation may also be influenced by the compartment unit 5 being moved during introduction of the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .
  • the compartment unit 5 is for example stepwise rotated during the introduction.
  • the whole portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, ... are located outside the compartment unit 5 and will therefore fall down. Due to the somewhat inclined first three-dimensional orientation, the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, .... has a preferred falling direction and will tilt about the lower short edge 23a. Thereby the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, ....will be brought to the second three-dimensional orientation, which is seen in Figures 3b and 5d . Due to the regular arrangement of the compartments 9a, 9b, 9c.... the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c,... will fall down in a staggered, domino-like pattern as is illustrated in Figure 3b .
  • Step c is performed by:
  • step c1' the compartment unit 5 is positioned at the second distance d 2 from the bottom wall 13 of the container 3.
  • the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... stand on one of their short edges 23a on the bottom wall 13 of the container 3, hence d 2 ⁇ I.
  • the second displacement motion is a rotation in the reconfiguretion plane around the axial direction A, which will cause the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, ... to fall down in a staggered, domino-like pattern as is illustrated in Figure 3b .
  • the method may comprise: d) displacing the compartment unit 5 in relation to the container 3 in the height direction H of the container 3, such that the compartment unit 5 applies pressure to the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... when assuming the second three-dimensional orientation. See Figure 5e .
  • portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... may be locally compressed by means of the compartment unit 5. This will help to retain a stable configuration of the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, .... in the container 3.
  • the pressure is applied with the compartment unit 5 being at a third distance d 3 from the bottom wall 13 of the container 3 being less than the second distance d 2 .
  • Figure 6a illustrates a cross-section of an alternative compartment unit 5'. Similar as for Figure 3a , the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, ... have one of their short edges 23a, 23b directed towards the container 3.
  • the compartments forms a first sequence 33a, 33b, ... forming a full circle, corresponding to that of Figure 3a .
  • a position 35a in the second sequence is reached via a position 33a of the first sequence.
  • the already introduced portion packet in the second sequence 35a will then block the portion packet of the first sequence 33a from getting any closer to the centre of the circle. It is preferred that the number of positions 33a, 33b, ... in the first sequence is a multiple of the number of positions 35a, 35b in the second sequence. In the illustrated embodiment, there are fifteen positions in the first sequence and five in the second sequence.
  • the compartments have two different sizes, adapted either for two portion packets, i.e. 33a and 35a, or adapted for one portion packet 33b, 33c.
  • the five portion packets of the second sequence form a pentagon, surrounded by the fifteen portion packets of the first sequence substantially forming a polygon with fifteen sides.
  • Figure 7a illustrates a cross-section of yet an examplary compartment unit 5" which is not in the scope of the invention. Similar as for Figure 3a , the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, ... have one of their short edges 23a, 23b directed towards the container 3", which in this embodiment is rectangular and has a longitudinal direction L, see Figure 7b .
  • the alternative compartment unit 5" may be loaded by stepwise relative linear translational movement in the longitudinal direction L, such that the portion packet s11a, 11b, 11c, .... are introduced one by one.
  • the portion packets may be arranged in one, two, three or more parallel lines in the container.
  • Step c may be performed by steps c1 and c2 above. Since the compartments are larger than the portion packets, the portion tend to be somewhat inclined in first three-dimensional orientation, see Figure 7a .
  • the first three-dimensional orientation may also be influenced by the stepwise relative linear translational movement during introduction of the portion packets. Due to the somewhat inclined first three-dimensional orientation, the portion packet has a preferred falling direction and will tilt about the lower short edge. Thereby the portion packets will be brought to the second three-dimensional orientation, which is seen in Figure 7b . Due to the regular arrangement of the compartments the portion packets will fall down in a staggered, domino-like pattern.
  • step c may be performed by steps c1' and c2' above.
  • a second displacement motion which is is a linear translational movement in the reconfiguration plane in the longitudinal direction L, may be utilized.
  • An upper portion of the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, .... will be moved by the compartment unit 5", while a lower portion of the portion packet 11a, 11b remains with one of the short edges 23a, 23b in contact with the bottom wall of the container 3", such that the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, .... is tilted about the lower short edge.
  • the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, .... will be brought to the second three-dimensional orientation, which is seen in Figure 7b , in which the portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c,... partly overlap.
  • the arrangement 1 may further comprise a transport unit 37 configured to transport individual portion packets 11a, 11b, 11c, ....to the compartment unit 5, see Figures 8 and 9 , wherein Figure 9 shows a cross-section along line A-A in Figure 8 .
  • the transport unit 37 comprises a product channel 39 arranged for transportation of individual portion packets, which may be transported by means gravity and/or pressurized gas. In the illustrated embodiment, the individual portion packets are transported by means of gravity.
  • the product channel 39 forms an angle ⁇ to a horizontal plane. If using gravity only, the angle ⁇ may be in the range from 30° to 90°, preferably from 40° to 80°, more preferably from 50° to 70°. If using pressurized gas any angle would work since the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, ....will be moved by the pressurized gas.
  • the product channel 39 is configured to introduce each individual portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, ....into the compartment with a predefined three-dimensional orientation in relation to the compartment, more preferably such that an edge of each portion packet faces a bottom wall of the container 3, most preferably one of the short edges 23a, 23b of the portion packet 11a, 11b, 11c, «
  • the method for positioning portion packets is performed as described above.
  • the optional indentation 41 in the centre column 22 is adapted to fit on a corresponding protuberance 43 of the bottom wall 13 of the container 3.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Procédé pour positionner des paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) d'un produit pour utilisation orale dans un récipient (3) au moyen d'une unité à compartiments (5, 5'),
    ledit récipient (3) comprenant une paroi inférieure (13) et une paroi latérale (15) définissant ensemble un volume de stockage (17), ledit récipient (3) ayant une direction de hauteur (H), ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') comprenant une pluralité de compartiments (9a, 9b, 9c, ...), chacun avec une ouverture de déchargement (21) respective,
    ledit procédé comprenant :
    a) le positionnement de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') à une première distance (d1) de ladite paroi inférieure (13) dudit récipient (3) avec lesdites ouvertures de déchargement (21) faisant face audit volume de stockage (17) dudit récipient (3),
    b) l'introduction d'au moins un paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) dans un i-ème compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5'), ledit paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) prenant ainsi une première orientation tridimensionnelle avec ledit au moins un paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) étant en contact avec ladite paroi inférieure (13) dudit récipient (3) et restant au moins partiellement dans ledit i-ème compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...), dans lequel i est un nombre entier allant de 1 à n, n étant le nombre de compartiments (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) à charger, n ≥ 2,
    c) le déplacement de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') par rapport audit récipient (3) pour ainsi provoquer une reconfiguration de chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) vers une seconde orientation tridimensionnelle différente de ladite première orientation tridimensionnelle,
    caractérisé en ce que
    lesdits compartiments (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) sont agencés dans une disposition de compartiments formant une première séquence qui est un cercle complet, un demi-cercle ou n'importe quelle autre partie d'un cercle, et en ce que l'étape c comprend
    c1') le positionnement de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') par rapport audit récipient (3) à une seconde distance (d2), qui peut être égale à ladite première distance (d1), à partir de ladite paroi inférieure (13) dudit récipient (3), dans lequel une portion de chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) se trouve hors dudit compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) correspondant et une autre portion de chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) se trouve à l'intérieur dudit compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) correspondant, et
    c2') le déplacement de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') par rapport audit récipient (3) par un mouvement relatif de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') dans un plan de reconfiguration perpendiculaire à ladite direction de hauteur (H) dudit récipient (3), quand elle est positionnée à ladite seconde distance (d2) à partir de ladite paroi inférieure (13) dudit récipient (3), pour ainsi provoquer une reconfiguration de chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) vers ladite seconde orientation tridimensionnelle,
    dans lequel l'étape c2' est effectuée par un mouvement de rotation dans ledit plan de reconfiguration de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') par rapport audit récipient (3).
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les étapes c1' et c2' sont effectuées simultanément, ou au moins partiellement simultanément, de sorte que ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') est positionnée par rapport audit récipient (3) à ladite seconde distance (d2) à partir de ladite paroi inférieure (13) en même temps que ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') est déplacée dans ledit plan de reconfiguration.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel l'étape c comprend en outre
    c1) le déplacement de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') par rapport audit récipient (3) par un mouvement relatif dans ladite direction de hauteur (H) dudit récipient (3) au moins jusqu'à ce que chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) soit situé hors dudit compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) correspondant, et
    c2) le fait de permettre à chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) de tomber sur un paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) adjacent, de sorte qu'un paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) chevauche partiellement ledit paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) adjacent dans ladite seconde orientation tridimensionnelle.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes comprenant en outre :
    d) le déplacement de ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') par rapport audit récipient (3) dans ladite direction de hauteur (H) dudit récipient (3), de sorte que ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') applique une pression sur lesdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) lors de la prise de ladite seconde orientation tridimensionnelle.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel dans l'étape b ledit paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) est introduit de façon qu'un de ses bords (23a, 23b, 25a, 25b) soit en face de ladite paroi inférieure (13) dudit récipient (3), de préférence l'un de ses bords courts (23a, 23b).
  6. Dispositif (1) pour positionner des paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) d'un produit pour utilisation orale dans un récipient (3), ledit dispositif (1) comprenant
    - une unité à compartiments (5, 5'), comprenant une pluralité de compartiments (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) pour recevoir au moins un paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...), et
    - une unité de positionnement (7), ayant une direction axiale (A),
    ladite unité de positionnement (7) étant adaptée pour déplacer ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') dans un premier mouvement de déplacement dans ladite direction axiale (A),
    caractérisé en ce que
    lesdits compartiments (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) sont agencés dans une disposition de compartiments formant une première séquence qui est un cercle complet, un demi-cercle ou n'importe quelle autre partie d'un cercle, et dans lequel ladite unité de positionnement (7) est adaptée pour déplacer ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5') par un mouvement de rotation dans un second mouvement de déplacement dans un plan de reconfiguration perpendiculaire à ladite direction axiale (A).
  7. Dispositif (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel lesdits compartiments sont agencés dans une disposition de compartiments formant ladite première séquence (33a, 33b, 33c, ...) et dans une seconde séquence (35a, 35b ...) qui est un cercle complet, un demi-cercle ou n'importe quelle autre partie d'un cercle, ladite seconde séquence étant concentrique avec ladite première séquence.
  8. Dispositif (1) selon la revendication 6 ou 7, dans lequel ledit dispositif (1) comprend une colonne centrale (22) située à un centre de ladite unité à compartiments (5), ladite colonne centrale (22) pouvant être déplacée par rapport auxdits compartiments (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) dans ladite direction axiale (A).
  9. Dispositif (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 8, dans lequel chacun desdits compartiments (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) présente
    - une extrémité d'entrée (19), où un paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) peut être introduit dans ledit compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...),
    - une extrémité de retenue (20) opposée à ladite extrémité d'entrée (19), ladite extrémité de retenue empêchant ledit paquet de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) de se déplacer davantage,
    - un ouverture de déchargement (21) faisant face dans une direction perpendiculaire à une ligne droite tracée entre ladite extrémité d'entrée (19) et ladite extrémité de retenue (20).
  10. Dispositif (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 9 comprenant en outre
    - une unité de transport (37) configurée pour transporter des paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) individuels vers ladite unité à compartiments (5, 5'), dans lequel ladite unité de transport (37) comprend un canal de produit (39) agencé pour le transport de paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) individuels.
  11. Dispositif (1) selon la revendication 10, dans lequel ledit canal de produit (39) est configuré pour introduire chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) dans ledit compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...) avec une orientation tridimensionnelle prédéfinie par rapport audit compartiment (9a, 9b, 9c, ...), de préférence de façon qu'un bord (23a, 23b, 25a, 25b) de chacun desdits paquets de portion (11a, 11b, 11c, ...) soit en face d'une paroi inférieure (13) dudit récipient (3), de manière davantage préférée l'un de ses bords courts (23a, 23b).
EP16197948.9A 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets partiels Active EP3321194B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (19)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LT16197948T LT3321194T (lt) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Porcijų paketų išdėstymo būdas ir įtaisas
PT161979489T PT3321194T (pt) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Procedimento e dispositivo para posicionamento de embalagens doseadas
ES16197948T ES2753589T3 (es) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Método y disposición para colocar paquetes de porciones
PL16197948T PL3321194T3 (pl) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Sposób i urządzenie do pozycjonowania pakietów porcjowych
DK16197948T DK3321194T3 (da) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Fremgangsmåde og indretning til positionering af portionspakker
RSP20191375 RS59450B1 (sr) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Postupak i uređaj za postavljanje paketa sa pojedinačnim porcijama
EP16197948.9A EP3321194B1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets partiels
SI201630497T SI3321194T1 (sl) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Postopek in naprava za pozicioniranje porcijskih paketov
HUE16197948A HUE047409T2 (hu) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Eljárás és elrendezés adagcsomagok behelyezésére
US16/344,168 US11046464B2 (en) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 Method and device for positioning portion packets
EP17787210.8A EP3541706A1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets fractionnés
RU2019117602A RU2751245C2 (ru) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 Способ и устройство для позиционирования порционных пакетиков
KR1020197014273A KR102419440B1 (ko) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 부분 패킷을 위치시키는 장치 및 방법
CA3042765A CA3042765A1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 Procede et dispositif de positionnement de paquets fractionnes
PCT/EP2017/077467 WO2018086902A1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets fractionnés
JP2019545843A JP7170648B2 (ja) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 ポーションパケットを位置決めするための方法およびデバイス
HRP20191890TT HRP20191890T8 (hr) 2016-11-09 2019-10-17 Postupak i uređaj za pozicioniranje paketa dijelova
CY20191101128T CY1122284T1 (el) 2016-11-09 2019-10-30 Μεθοδος και συσκευη για τοποθετηση πακετων τεμαχιων
US17/330,459 US11884433B2 (en) 2016-11-09 2021-05-26 Container comprising a plurality of portion packets of a product for oral use

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16197948.9A EP3321194B1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets partiels

Publications (2)

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EP3321194A1 EP3321194A1 (fr) 2018-05-16
EP3321194B1 true EP3321194B1 (fr) 2019-08-21

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EP16197948.9A Active EP3321194B1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2016-11-09 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets partiels
EP17787210.8A Pending EP3541706A1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets fractionnés

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EP17787210.8A Pending EP3541706A1 (fr) 2016-11-09 2017-10-26 Procédé et dispositif de positionnement de paquets fractionnés

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EP (2) EP3321194B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP7170648B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR102419440B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA3042765A1 (fr)
CY (1) CY1122284T1 (fr)
DK (1) DK3321194T3 (fr)
ES (1) ES2753589T3 (fr)
HR (1) HRP20191890T8 (fr)
HU (1) HUE047409T2 (fr)
LT (1) LT3321194T (fr)
PL (1) PL3321194T3 (fr)
PT (1) PT3321194T (fr)
RS (1) RS59450B1 (fr)
RU (1) RU2751245C2 (fr)
SI (1) SI3321194T1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2018086902A1 (fr)

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IT202000003476A1 (it) * 2020-02-20 2021-08-20 Gd Spa Dispositivo e metodo per il riempimento di contenitori per bustine di tabacco da fiuto o per uso orale.

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Publication number Publication date
JP7170648B2 (ja) 2022-11-14
KR102419440B1 (ko) 2022-07-11
ES2753589T3 (es) 2020-04-13
RU2751245C2 (ru) 2021-07-12
JP2019535605A (ja) 2019-12-12
CA3042765A1 (fr) 2018-05-17
PL3321194T3 (pl) 2020-03-31
SI3321194T1 (sl) 2019-12-31
KR20190075969A (ko) 2019-07-01
HUE047409T2 (hu) 2020-04-28
US20210078739A2 (en) 2021-03-18
US20210380288A1 (en) 2021-12-09
DK3321194T3 (da) 2019-11-11
WO2018086902A1 (fr) 2018-05-17
LT3321194T (lt) 2019-11-25
PT3321194T (pt) 2019-11-12
RS59450B1 (sr) 2019-11-29
US11046464B2 (en) 2021-06-29
EP3541706A1 (fr) 2019-09-25
CY1122284T1 (el) 2020-11-25
RU2019117602A (ru) 2020-12-10
HRP20191890T1 (hr) 2020-01-10
US11884433B2 (en) 2024-01-30
HRP20191890T8 (hr) 2020-02-07
US20190329915A1 (en) 2019-10-31
RU2019117602A3 (fr) 2021-01-19
EP3321194A1 (fr) 2018-05-16

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